Mangione's legal team asks judge to dismiss NY state murder charges

Luigi Mangione's legal team on Thursday asked a judge to dismiss the New York state murder charges against their client, given he already faces federal murder charges.

Mangione stands accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last December, and was later arrested for the crime in Pennsylvania after a days-long manhunt.

Law enforcement officers said they found a 9mm handgun, ammunition, and a notebook on Mangione during the arrest. He allegedly described his intent to “wack” an insurance executive in the notebook, according to the Associated Press.

Lawyers for the 26-year-old said the parallel federal and state charges are attempts by prosecutors to "get two bites at the apple to convict Mr. Mangione” of murder, and claimed law enforcement did not read their client his rights during his arrest and searched him without a warrant.

“Yet, despite the gravest of consequences for Mr. Mangione, law enforcement has methodically and purposefully trampled his constitutional rights,” the lawyers wrote in their 57-page filing.

The legal team also asked the court to bar the evidence law enforcement gathered in the arrest from the trial if the state charges are not dismissed, or to dismiss the terrorism charges against their client.

The update comes after federal prosecutors said they intend to seek the death penalty if Mangione is convicted.

Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is due back in state court on June 26 and in federal court on Dec. 5. No trial date has been set for either case.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.